through diverse ways to raise funds for the acaddemy here in Ghana. It recently outdoored the Ghana glens badge which is selling tremendously at matches being played at the oval.

Ghana Glens is appreciative of the kind gesture of the Glentoran community Trust and hopes this new relationship with the trust will live on. read more from gctni.com

GLENTORAN FOOTBALL ACADEMY RECEIVES 20 ACRE LAND DONATION
April 2

The Chiefs and good people of Tanoso Traditional Area, a suburb of Sunyani, out of generosity and the hope for a prosperous future of our academy for their community has donated a fifteen (15) acre land to our academy.

This was in response of our publicity for land for our academy expansion project. We find this time as the most appropriate for our expansion project as we are currently faced with critical situational problems in our present premise.

As a matter of urgency, we are in dire need of funds to proceed with work on the land, with documentation, clearing and sod cutting being the prime most factors. Glentoran Ghana can already foresee a tomorrow where everything will be perfect for our academy when this expansion project is completed.

The project will include the construction of dormitory blocks to serve as hostel facilities for both our male and female players. This facility will also have a dinning hall and kitchen. We also intend to construct classroom blocks and a modern ICT centre on our new premises to serve as a school for the kids. The construction of two pitches (natural and artificial) will also be considered. We will also have, as part of the facilities on our new premises a fitness centre and modern laundry facilities to ensure healthy living, at all times for the kids. Transportation has always been a problem and we intend to address this by the acquisition of a bus/coach which will transport the kids to and fro the academy premises.

We hereby appeal to all to donate generously to the future of our great academy, a future which will see to the lives of many young football stars from our communities. We will entreat all donations enquiries to be channelled through secretary@glentoran.org.

Your honest contribution will help put a smile on the face of one child, and many other children whose lives are being changed through this project.  Thank you and God richly bless your efforts.

The Chiefs and people of Tanoso Traditional Area, a suburb of Sunyani, out of generosity and the hope for a prosperous future of our academy for their community has donated twenty (20) acre land to our academy

Ghana Glens Academy delighted with their kits
Friday 26 January

The efforts of Glens staff in Belfast put a big smile on the faces of the Ghana Glens under 12’s and under 14’s academy teams as they were able to have new kits for their current season.

Just before Christmas we sent 6 boxes weighing 93kgs of last year's kits through Belfast International Airport en route to our friends in Ghana. We done the same last year however this time we were able to supply sufficient for the Under 12's (pictured in the home shirts). Some tracksuits, polo shirts, tee shirts and bits and pieces went to help out the coaching staff at the Academy, (and a photo of Leeper apparently!)

The Academy in Ghana is run by Chris Forsythe, and the youngsters’ development at the academy importantly combines education and football.

Chris had lived on the Ormeau Road in Belfast some years ago, and developed an interest in Glentoran then, through his family connections, hence the present link. We are of course delighted to be able to bring some joy to these kids and provide a bit of encouragement to Chris to keep up the good work as his ambitions for the youngsters extend well beyond football. Chris is already working very hard to get the girls’ team up to speed.

Chris hopes to be able to bring the under 14’s to Belfast sometime later this year to play some games against both southern opposition and the Belfast Glens under 14’s. None of the academy pupils have been outside Ghana before but they are enthusiastic players and draw much of their inspiration from the success of the Black Stars (Ghana’s National team) in the World Cup.

The Ghana Glens academy project is located in central Ghana near Sunyani, the capital of the Brong Ahfro Region. Based at Tanoso about 5 miles from Sunyani, the photos give an indication of the poor state of the football pitches, and the general area there, however the kids remain undaunted by the challenges.

Some statistics below (source: UNICEF) probably says a lot more about the region:

Ghana Population 22m
Gross National Income per capita = US$450 (United Kingdom US$37,600) (Ireland US$40,150)

45% of the population survive on below US$1 per day (1994-2004) (US$ =0.51p stg. approx)

42% of the population over 6 years old have never been to school

Some soccer experts are forecasting that the next crop of great players will come out of Africa primarily, they say, because Western youngsters are too comfortable in their environment while ‘street kids’ have more to strive for. Time will tell, however we will be delighted if the kids do come to Belfast this year and maybe some of them will be wearing the Belfast Glens shirt in the not too distant future.

Credit: www.glentoran.net